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Hillsborough Honoree Seeks Presentation Sans Controversy

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By MIKE SALINERO | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 14, 2008

TAMPA - The presentation of Hillsborough County's Ralph Hughes Moral Courage Award on Wednesday will be free of controversy if the latest recipient has anything to say about the matter.

Dave Brown, who will receive the award at the county commission meeting, said he will not mention the board's recent decision to rename the honor for Hughes, a conservative political activist and campaign contributor.

The decision was criticized in media columns and editorials, and one past recipient gave back her award in protest.

Brown said he plans to "stay above the fray."

"I'm going to accept it in the spirit it was given in," Brown said. "I was nominated for it when it was just the Moral Courage Award."

The county's Citizen Advisory Committee nominated Brown for his work in correcting flood maps and for challenging the county water department's requirement that residents with secondary water supplies get above-ground backflow valves. The valves can cost up to $600 to install. Brown said they are unnecessary and can be easily tampered with.

Though he doesn't plan to reignite the controversy, Brown said he worries the award will be diminished by the continuing debate over Hughes' legacy.

"Personally, I'm surprised the Hughes family is allowing the award to be named after Ralph Hughes," Brown said. "I think they should be saying, 'Thank you, but no thank you.' "

Reporter Mike Salinero can be reached at (813) 259-8303.

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